The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Debut novelist Norman
humanizes the Exodus story in a moving account that takes some liberties with
the traditional biblical tale.

Blind, aged Tzipporah
lives alone in a little house at the foot of Mount Nevo in Jordan, feared by
her neighbors who nonetheless supply her with food and drink. One day,
Zev, a Kushite, shows up wanting to hear the true story of Moses, and Tzipporah
obliges. The novel is mostly one long flashback; in it, she, a Midyanite,
lives with her family at the foot of the Mountain of God, aka Mount Sinai. She
meets Kisil, aka Moses, a self-imposed wanderer who left Egypt and is torn
between his royal upbringing and his birth as an Avru (Hebrew) in the slave
quarters. He has wandered the Earth and seems to know everything, but he’s
also very quiet, modest, and riven with doubts and insecurities. He and
Tzipporah marry, have two sons, return to Egypt, and, as Exodus relates, lead
the Avru from bondage through the desert—a trek that’s not just physically
trying, but also complicated by stiff-necked, restive Avru people. The
climax of the story is Kisil’s attempt to commune with the unknown God who
lives in the fiery mountain; this is a well-known story, but Norman puts a
special twist on it. The Israelites become believers and, after many more
travails, come to the land of Canaan. Readers last see Kisil trudging up Mount
Nevo to meet his peaceful death; at story’s end, Tzipporah follows. This is a
Bible-based recounting that’s also a powerful, focused love story that may perhaps
be more appealing to seekers than believers. The characters, particularly Kisil
and Tzipporah, are human and memorable, and the noble Yisro, Tzipporah’s
father; the gentle giant Gamba; and the wily servant Desan keep the pot
stirred. Norman also provides an engaging, thoughtful afterword regarding
the story’s historical and archaeological details.

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